Related Stories

STAMFORD -- The police officers` union and the city on Thursday settled an unfair labor practice complaint filed by the union this fall that alleged the city misled the officers about being in dire financial straits during contract talks earlier this year.

The complaint was settled Thursday before a mediator during a meeting at the Government Center at which each union member got back one of the two personal days given up as concessions during contract negotiations this spring. The union initially asked the city to return $800 each member gave up from a clothing allowance, said Sgt. Joseph Kennedy, president of the police union.

Peter Privitera, city director of policy and management, referred questions about the complaint settlement to Bob Murray, the city director of human resources. Murray did not return phone messages left Friday seeking comment.

The union filed the complaint with the state Department of Labor after learning the city planned to hire two police officers months after it threatened to lay off 20 officers, Kennedy said. He said he felt the city was being untruthful about the impact of the global financial crisis on its ability to fund raises for officers.

"Lo and behold, once they get our money, they go and hire two more police officers," Kennedy said. "We`re not against hiring more police officers; we`re against being misled in negotiations."

Only one police officer was hired, police have said. Another candidate dropped out before being hired, citing personal reasons, a police department spokesman said.

With Thursday`s settlement, the union withdrew its complaint.

To lessen a tax hike in Mayor Dannel Malloy`s proposed budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year, elected officials cut $800,000 from salary accounts of municipal employees and asked for concessions from 10 of the unions of city employees. The police union was the last of the unions to strike a deal with the city. It gave up two personal days and halved its $1,600-per-member clothing allowance, amounting to $330,000 in savings.

In exchange, police officers kept pay raises and secured a no-layoff clause in a two-year contract. The city told the union it needed to find $400,000 in savings or it would be forced to lay off 20 officers.

Kennedy said the negotiations were in bad faith. Shortly after striking a deal with the city, Kennedy said he did not trust the city`s numbers.

Staff Writer Jeff Morganteen can be reached at jeff.morganteen@scni.com or (203) 964-2215.